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The 34-word Owen Farrell reply about Danny Cipriani's 'mafia' claim
Owen Farrell was put on the spot on Monday in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage when asked what he made about Danny Cipriani’s headline-grabbing accusations about the current England captain.
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A soon-to-be-published autobiography by Cipriani – titled Who Am I? – is currently being serialised in The Times and an extract over the weekend was reputational damaging to Farrell who is in France but suspended for his team’s opening two matches at the Rugby World Cup.
Cipriani alleged that a clique involving Farrell ran the 2015 England team heading into that year’s home World Cup, a tournament that Cipriani eventually wasn’t selected for.
“Everyone knows there’s a clique of players which helps run the team: Owen Farrell, George Ford, Chris Robshaw, Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, a couple of others.
“They’re called ‘the leadership group’, but they’re more like the mafia, always appearing to be scheming,” wrote Cipriani about a squad that went on to bomb out of the World Cup at the group stage.
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“Still, I get on fine with most of them. At least I think I do. Sam Burgess is in a WhatsApp group with the mafia until one day he posts a picture on Instagram of me and him in a coffee shop.
“A few hours later, George screenshots the picture and messages it to Sam, before removing him from the group. Sam couldn’t care less… I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend them, but clearly I’m not as welcome as I thought I was.”
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Asked for his thoughts on what Cipriani had alleged in his autobiography, Farrell gave a short 34-word answer at Monday’s arrival media briefing in France.
“I have seen what you are talking about. I don’t even know what to say, to be honest. I know Danny has got a book coming out so hopefully that goes well for him.”
Farrell was asked about the Cipriani allegations after he had earlier spoken about the red card last month that led to his current four-game suspension.
That has made him unavailable for England’s opening two World Cup matches, this Saturday against Argentina in Marseille and the September 17 fixture versus Japan in Nice.
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“I didn’t know at the time,” he said when quizzed if he immediately realised he had illegally clattered into Wales’ Taine Basham with shoulder-to-head contact at Twickenham on August 12.
“I knew when it came on the big screen. But it is what it is. I have been banned. I accept that I have been banned and I am gutted not to be playing but I am trying to do everything for this team.
“It [the ban] is what it is… I made a mistake and I got banned for it in the end… I’m not going to sit here and moan about it now. I’m excited for this World Cup to start, I’m excited to see what this team can do and I’ll look forward to being available again.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
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